Jeremy M. Simon: What everyone should know about credit reports and scores

What everyone should know about credit reports and scores

In his final column, Jeremy M. Simon shares his most important advice

By Jeremy M. Simon | Published: November 15, 2011

Dear Credit Score
Report readers,Let me get right to the point: More than likely, this will be my last
column for CreditCards.com -- at least as a full-time columnist. Shortly, I'll
be moving on from CreditCards.com to a job with the University of Texas
business school.

So for my last column, instead of responding to a reader's
email, I'm addressing a letter to you, the readers -- a letter that attempts to
summarize what I believe to be the key information consumers need to know about
credit scoring and reporting.

Don't freak out about
your credit score
I'll begin with a key point: Don't be overly concerned with your credit score. It can be a serious challenge to ever really "know" that number. That's
because these scores vary based on when they are calculated (since they originate
from a momentary snapshot of your credit report) and the scoring model itself.
(There are many scores out there, including FICO, VantageScore, proprietary
models and "educational" scores that aren't used by any lenders). Your
credit score number can -- and does -- vary from day to day and lender to
lender. As a result, at a given moment in time, it's extremely difficult to truly
"know" your credit score with any certainty.

So instead of placing emphasis on that score, focus on your
credit reports. Those reports are the basis for lending decisions, regardless
of the scoring model used. In some cases, they are even used for hiring
decisions. Note that I said "credit reports" -- plural. That's
because you've got a report with each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax,
Experian and TransUnion) that maintain a record of individual U.S. consumers'
borrowing behavior. Unless lenders tell you, it's difficult to know what
report they may be working with. Since the information listed in those bureaus'
reports can differ, you need to look at each one for a complete
picture of where you stand.

These reports are available for free or for purchase. Don't want
to pay? You can get each of those reports for free every 12 months at AnnualCreditReport.com,
so by staggering when you get the free copies, you can check the report from a
different bureau every four months. If you've already gotten all of your free
copies, you can pay for these reports as well. However you choose to access
your credit reports, please do so. They're important, particularly if you're
planning to apply for a loan in the near future.

What are you looking for on those credit reports? Errors,
for starters. Many reports contain mistakes -- some of which can ruin your
reputation as a responsible borrower. For example, a report may incorrectly list
a delinquent account that isn't actually yours. Once mistakes have been found,
be sure to dispute any such errors. Realize that policing these reports is up
to you, since the banks and credit bureaus typically don't have much reason to
fix mistakes on your behalf unless you demand it. So you must protect yourself.
Meanwhile, use your credit reports as a guide to improving your borrowing
behavior. For example, your report may show a card account that you have long
forgotten and have missed payments on. Discovering that card gives you a chance
to get current with your payments, which will help your credit score in the long run.

If choosing a credit
score, pick FICO's
If you are still determined to see your credit score, choose the FICO score.
That's because it remains, by far, the most popular score with U.S. lenders.
Decisions, such as whether to lend you money and how much interest to charge,
are based on the FICO score more frequently than any other single score out
there.

Where can you get a FICO score? You are entitled to a free FICO score
when lenders who use that score deny you for a loan or don't give you the best
terms. Also, certain credit unions and
banks make the FICO score available for free to customers, but that's not very
common. Begin by checking with your existing lenders to see if they can supply
you with a FICO score.

Otherwise, you'll need to pay for your score -- which
currently carries a price tag of $19.95 -- at myFICO.com. (Note that FICO
scores based on your credit reports with TransUnion and Equifax are available for purchase;
Experian-based FICO scores aren't currently available to consumers.) FICO
scores range from 300 to 850, with a higher score suggesting to lenders that
you are a low-risk borrower and more likely to repay any loans.

The road to a better
credit scoreFor most of us, our score isn't as high as we'd like it to be. To improve
your FICO score, focus on the basics: Always pay your bills on time (even
non-financial bills like cellphone payments, since many companies will turn
your account over to collections agencies if you don't pay, which in turn end up on your credit report) and keep debt
levels as low as possible. You should also avoid opening new credit accounts
unnecessarily, since the resulting "hard" credit inquiries appear on
your credit reports and can lower your score.

In conclusion, while there's much about credit reporting and
scoring that is esoteric and confusing, it doesn't have to be. As long as you
strive to be a careful borrower and keep an eye on your credit reports, when
the time comes to apply for a loan, you'll be more likely to be approved. And
that, at the most basic level, is what having good credit is all about.

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